Teo Choon Teck

GrandMaster

Born in 1939 in Singapore, Grandmaster Teo Choon Teck started his martial arts training by doing western boxing in his village. He practiced many different arts but eventually was introduced to Taichokun under Great Grandmaster Quek Hiong Hor. Besides Taichokun, he also studied iron fist conditioning from the famous Shaolin Master “Iron Fist” Chong Beng Joo. In 1968, Grandmaster Teo took part in the first Southeast Asian Leitai Tournament and became a national champion. He eventually represented Singapore to fight in the same tournament and won second place in the Southeast Asian Leitai fight. Leitai matches in those days were a lot less regulated, and opponents were tougher. Many competitors left the tournaments with broken teeth and other injuries.

After achieving success in the ring, Teo Choon Teck started Sancheendo Martial Arts Institute in 1972 with a combination of Taichokun and Ngochokun. Sancheendo was very active in the 1970s & 80s and nurtured a number of Leitai sanda champions. His fiery character earns him the nickname Nu Jingang (怒金刚), the Angry Vajra. The Vajra is a Buddhist guardian deity, who punishes evil. The nickname represents Sifu Teo’s strong character and his explosiveness in sanda tournaments.

​Despite his success in sanda tournaments, Sifu Teo always tell his students that traditional Taichokun is the core of the style. He was very clear in his teaching that whilst sanda is ‘playing’ Taichokun Kuntao is the real art. In such a way, he was very strict in his teachings of taolu with an emphasis on the practical usage of the techniques.

​In 2010, he was awarded 9th Dan by the International Wuzuquan Federation based in Quanzhou, China.

​Today at close to 80 years old, Sifu Teo is still actively involved in martial arts and Taichokun, passing on his knowledge to the next generation.